Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

B. L. SPRAGUE.

BOOT 0R SHOE.

No. 306,655. Pa-tented Oct. 14, 1884.

u, PETERS, Pheloiilhognpher. Washington a. c

NITED STATES PATENT Orrrcs,

BOOT OR SHOE.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Applicati on filed Mar To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. SPRAGUE, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention consists, essentially, in a gaiter-boot the top part of which, above the quarter and back of the ankle-joint, is composed of elastic goring, while the fore part of the top, or that covering the instep, and the side flap or flaps to cover the sides of the foot back to at or near} the ankle-joint, are composed of leather or cloth, or of goring, with a button or fastening flap of other material, the buttons or other fastenings being attached to the elastic goring in the rear part of the shoe, the latter yielding about the tendon of the heel as the shoe is being buttoned or otherwise fastened, or when the said goring is strained, as during walking. As hereinshown, the top part, back of the ankle, is composed of a single seamless piece of elastic goring, and there are side flaps at both sides of the foot.

Figure 1, in side elevation, represents a button-boot embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a

right-hand or heel end view of Fig. 1; and Fig.

3, a section of Fig. 2 on the dotted line :0 m, Fig. 2, part of the fore part of the boot being broken off to save space on the drawings.

The sole a, vamp b, and quarter 0 are and may be all as usual. The rear part of the top of the boot, as herein shown, is composed of an ankle-covering portion, (1, made of elastic goring stitched to the part c, as indicated, adapted to stretch about the rear of the ankle, and provided at its inner side with a stay, (1, to which is attached the pulling-on strap (1 The. anklecovering portion at will preferably be bound at its edge by an elastic braid, as at e, the same being woven or braided and containing elastic warpthreads, and, as herein shown, the said part d is provided at each side the foot with a row of buttons, as shown at f, which are attached to the elastic goring (1 back of the ankle-joint, a stay-piece or strip (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1) being preferably placed at the inner side of the goring opposite the point where the shanks of the buttons are attached thereto. By attaching the buttons to the gor- Patent No. 306,655, dated October 14,1884.

ch 10, 1884. (No model.)

ing, as stated, the latter may stretch, and will then'contract in the direction of the arrows 2 3, respectively, when the shoe is in use or is being fastened,'the button-holes or devices of the side flaps, f g, forming, preferably, integral parts of the instep-covering portions h of the top, the latter portions being united together at If and to the vamp at if.

The fastenings, herein shown as buttons f, are attached directly to the elastic goring, so that the latter is free to yield to the strain exerted thereon by the ankle when walking, and yet fit the ankle snugly, and being provided with side flaps at both sides, the shoe can be opened at either side, according to the desire of the wearer.

If desired, the shoe may be opened, at but one side; or one of the flaps, f may be omit- 7o ted, and instead of it I may employa piece of elastic goring or fabric to close and complete that side'of the button-boot, and in the latter case I'may use an elastic goring or fabric for the instep-piece at the side that is open.

I am aware that the back portion of a boot or shoe has contained elastic goring; but I am not aware that the said elastic goring has had buttons applied to it in such manner that strain upon the buttons of the boot, when buttoned or in the process of buttoning, causes the elastic goring of the said top portion about the heel to expand.

I claim- 1. In a boot or shoe, a quarter and a heel covering or embracing portion, d, above and connected with it, the said portion being composed of or containing elastic goring or fabric, and having secured to the elastic portion fastenings to connect the said part d with the instep-covering portion of the shoe, the portion (1, by the strain upon the fastenings attached to it, being free to stretch about the heel or leg of the wearer of the shoe at and about the ankle, substantially as described.

2. In a gaiter-boot, the sole and quarter and the portion (2, composed of or containing elastic goring or fabric attached to the quarter and extended to or near the upper edge of the top, and having buttons or other fastenings attached thereto, combined with a vamp, instep-covering portion, and aside flap connected with or forming part of the said instep-covering portion of the said boot, the said side flap being adapted to be confined in place 4. In a boot or shoe, the combination, with elastic goring, of an elastic binding to bind I5 the same and stretch in unison with the said goring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN L. SPRAGUE.

\Vitnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. H. SIGSTQN. 

